Katniss rubbed her clammy palms against the rough bark. The arrows kept slipping from her hands, every time she tried to shoot. Maybe it was the humid weather, or maybe……..Katniss dared herself to think it…..it was the dark haired boy some 5 yards away.

I don't like Gale Hawthorne……at least not THAT way……

Katniss took a deep breath, and reminded herself that Gale probably only thought of her has a friend, or maybe even just a hunting partner. She hated the way the thought hurt her, almost as much as she hated the way her heart skipped a beat when Gale looked straight at her.

I don't like Gale Hawthorne…… she repeated to herself.

"Who don't you like?" The sandy sound of Gale's voice sounded behind her. Katniss realized that she must have said it out loud. "Oh, I…..the……I don't like the weather today….." Katniss pretended to re-tie her boots, as to hide her crimson face.

"Well, today's best for water voles. So are you gonna start REALLY hunting, or are you just gonna stand there till all the voles die of old age?" Gale grabbed Katniss' arm and pulled her up. Katniss flushed red all over again.

She stared up at Gale, hoping that she could detect some evidence, however small, that Gale had felt the same way she felt when he had touched her arm.

But staring back at her was only two grey pools of cold emptiness, as if she were staring at a stone. Choking back a sigh, Katniss realized that she was only a partner, someone who only existed in his life on days with fine hunting weather.

She trudged through the undergrowth, following Gale tightly.

I don't like Gale Hawthorne…

.Katniss sighed, and tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat.

Suddenly a buzz sounded in the air. Katniss had stepped on an alarm. Normally she would have seen the big neon circle, but today……

The wooshing sound of helicopters was bearing down on her.

Oh no, Gale!

Katniss started running through the woods, she had to find Gale and warn him. Her braid slapped against her face as she whipped her head from side to side, trying to spot the lanky shadow of Gale.

"There! It's the girl!" She could hear voices behind her getting closer and closer. "Where's the boy?" Another voice cut through the air.

Katniss whipped behind a tree, letting leafy branches obscure her from view. Then her heart sank, she could hear deep breathing close to her. She didn't dare look at the person beside her.

Gale…save me……

"Catnip! I should have never agreed to be partners with you, I should have known that all Everdeens were the same." Gale was glaring at her.

Katniss' relief turned to anger. How dare he bring that up. 7 year ago, Gale's father and Katniss' father were caught hunting, because Katniss' father had stepped on an alarm. Now…..

"I guess neon circles are just too camouflaged for the Everdeens." Gale leered coldly.

Katniss had had enough, all the emotions started swelling up, the hate, the fear, the anger…the love……..

Katniss brought her hand down on his face hard. She whipped around, not wanting to see the hand mark on Gale's face, and ran off.

If she had looked back, maybe just a glance, she would have seen long olive-skinned fingers reach up and softly touch the spot where she had just made her mark.